We look at good work experience placements

Not all work experience placements were created equally. Some students return from placement with tales of dramatic meetings and high flying contacts, while others spend a week fetching coffees and wrestling with dodgy photocopiers. To make sure you get the most out of your time, we've rounded up some expert tips on finding good work experience placements...

Be selective when applying for your placement. It can be tempting to send out dozens of letters in the hope that at least one can offer you a placement. But it's a far better strategy to research companies in your area, choose the ones that you would like to work with and send a well-planned, targeted letter to ask about work experience opportunities.

If a company offers you a place, be polite but don't accept right away, no matter how tempting it may be. Ask to meet with them to discuss details. Treat this meeting like a job interview, but one where you prepare the questions. You'll want to know what they can offer you, what tasks you'll be doing on a daily basis and more practical concerns, like working hours.

If your work experience placement isn't going as well as you'd hoped, speak up. Don't make a nuisance of yourself by being demanding, but do think of ways that you could add value for both yourself and your employer. Do you have any fresh ideas that could benefit the company? If all else fails, ask to shadow someone in a department that you're interested in.